As a public and member service, the California Association of REALTORS® offers a free assistance line, the Ombudsman Hotline, to foster dispute resolution. Belive it or not, occasionally, REALTORS® and/or their clients, find themselves embroiled in a dispute with another, or their own, REALTOR®. The C.A.R. Ombudsman Hotline is here to help. C.A.R. Ombudsmen receive and respond to questions and complaints about members; can contact members to inform them that another REALTOR® has raised a question or issue; and can contact members to obtain information necessary to provide an informed response to the person complaining.

The Ombudsman’s role is primarily one of communication and conciliation, not adjudication. Ombudsmen do not determine whether ethics violations have occurred, rather they anticipate, identify, and resolve misunderstandings and disagreements before matters ripen into more significant disputes.

As an official Ombudsman for the California Association of REALTORS®, it’s a great volunteer position helping to foster dispute resolution in real estate conflicts or simple misunderstandings. All too often, easily resolvable issues proliferate into costly litigation. REALTORS® and the public alike can use this free CAR service anytime to address potential REALTOR® misconduct, transactional disputes and many other issues that come up.

Sources: www.car.org/members/ombudsman

-Devin Lucas